Police have arrested eight accused, including Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, in connection with the alleged theft of offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. All the accused were taken into custody late on Thursday and will be produced before a local court, where police will seek 14 days of judicial remand for further investigation.
The first formal FIR in the case was registered on Thursday evening following a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Eight persons have been named in the FIR.
Those named are Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Manish Yadav, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Subhash Chandra Srivastava and Ramashankar Mishra. According to police, most of them were associated with counting temple offerings, donation management and related administrative work. Based on the preliminary investigation, cases have been registered against them under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The first FIR does not include the names of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, Trustee Dr. Anil Mishra or other senior office-bearers. Police and the administration have not issued any official statement on the status of any inquiry involving senior officials. Authorities said the investigation is continuing and further action will be taken based on available evidence.
The alleged irregularities in temple offerings first came to light on 7 June. On 13 June, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the request of the temple trust. After examining documents, financial records and questioning concerned personnel, the SIT submitted its preliminary report to the state government on 23 June. Legal proceedings subsequently advanced with the registration of the FIR. Investigating agencies said a detailed forensic examination of financial transactions, donation management and banking procedures will also be carried out.
According to sources, investigators found that the keys to the temple donation boxes were in the possession of Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. The SIT also identified around 150 employees and volunteers whose financial condition reportedly showed noticeable changes after the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in January 2024. However, officials have not released any official conclusions regarding these findings. Investigators are examining bank accounts, assets, financial transactions and other documents to determine the nature of the alleged irregularities.
Following the inclusion of provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the FIR, the investigation may also extend to government officials and employees. According to preliminary information, government personnel were involved in the process of counting temple offerings and depositing the funds with the State Bank of India (SBI). Police said legal action against any individual will be based solely on available evidence and the findings of the investigation.
The Uttar Pradesh government reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards crime and corruption. Senior state minister Suresh Khanna said the investigation would be conducted impartially and that action would be taken in accordance with the law if evidence of irregularities or corruption is established. The government said no guilty person would be spared and that the investigation would proceed with transparency.
The case has also drawn political reactions. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the scope of the investigation was being kept limited and called for an impartial inquiry into alleged financial irregularities at a broader level. He claimed to have submitted documents to investigating agencies referring to alleged land and financial irregularities. Sanjay Singh also alleged that action against only a few employees was an attempt to divert attention from larger allegations. As of the publication of this report, neither the trust nor the individuals referred to in the allegations had issued a detailed official response.
After producing the accused before the court, police will seek further remand for detailed questioning. Investigating agencies will also examine whether the alleged theft of temple offerings involved an organised network or was confined to a limited number of individuals. If new evidence emerges during the investigation, additional names may be added to the FIR and further legal provisions may also be invoked.
